England captain Andrew Strauss disagreed the lucrative Indian league was a distraction for his team which faces a 3-0 defeat against Pakistan in the third and final Test starting here from Friday.
Pakistan won the first two Tests, the first here by ten wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi, to clinch an unassailable 2-0 lead. And with Saturday’s auction in the Indian Premier League (IPL) looming, Strauss was asked whether that would be a distraction for his players. “I certainly hope not. I think we’ve had this circumstance before,” the England captain said. Names of several members of the current squad will appear in the auction to be held in Bangalore with James Anderson, Ian Bell, Swann, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior and Chris Tremlett appearing favourites to be included.
